WINTER PARK, Fla. (February 26, 2012)
- The Rollins softball team had everything working as they
dominated in every aspect of the sport in a double header sweep of
Kentucky State Sunday morning. Both games were decided by run rule
in the minimum five innings, 9-0 in game one and 11-3 in game
two.
Senior Hope Bitzer stole the show in game one which was no
easy feat in a game that included eight extra base hits by the
Tars, including two homeruns by senior Meredith Foster. To go along with her 3-3 day at the
plate, including two doubles, Bitzer (5-2) tossed a no-hitter while
only allowing two base runners over five innings of work.
The no-hitter was her second on the season, third career, as she
threw her last one back on Feb. 10th of this year
against Albany St.
In game one, Rollins wasted no time as they jumped out to a
three run lead in the bottom of the first. Junior Aimee Halpin led off with a walk and after she stole
second, Bitzer singled up the middle to drive in Halpin to open the
scoring. Foster then followed the Bitzer single with a two run bomb
off the scoreboard in left center to put the Tars up 3-0 after
one.
The Tars would add to their lead in the third with another big
inning, scoring four on four hits. After senior Monica Meadows led off with a walk, Bitzer doubled to
right center advancing Meadows to third. Foster followed with her
second big fly of the day as she sent the first pitch she saw well
over the fence in left, scoring Meadows and Bitzer.
With the lead now at 6-0, the Tars weren't done as they would
add another in the inning on an RBI double by junior Hannah Lovestrand that drove in senior Lawna Hunter. Hunter had followed the Foster homerun
with a double herself earlier in the inning.
Rollins would add two more in the fourth, opening the inning
with a Veronica Alred single, a Meadows RBI triple, and a RBI
double from Bitzer to push the lead to 9-0.
Staring its third defeat in a row by run rule directly in the
face, Kentucky State came to bat in the fifth with the bottom of
the order set to face Bitzer. Bitzer (5-2) left no doubt, striking
out the side to end the game to pick up her fifth win of the
season. Lorena Villamar (0-2) took the loss in game one for the
Thorobrettes, giving up eight runs on eight hits in three innings
pitched.
Game two stared in similar fashion after a single by Foster that
drove in Meadows and also allowed Bitzer to score on the play gave
the Tars a 2-0 lead after one.
The Thorobrettes showed their first signs of life in the third.
After a two out two RBI single by first baseman Shanaaz Burrell and
a base loaded RBI single up the middle by second baseman Jasmine
McQueen, Kentucky State took their first lead at 3-2.
The lead was short lived as Rollins added three runs of their
own in the bottom half of the inning. Alred led off the inning with
a single and was driven in immediately after on a triple down the
right field line by Meadows. With Meadows on third, Bitzer then
homered to deep right for her team leading fourth long ball of the
season.
With the score 5-3, the Tars added four more in the fourth
highlighted by back-to-back homeruns. The first by Halpin that
landed just outside the reach of a diving Danielle Garay in left
that went all the way to the fence, allowing Halpin to cruise in
standing for the inside the park homerun that also drove in
Lovestrand. Alred then followed with a rocket inside the foul pole
in left.
Rollins would add another in the frame on a bases loaded walk to
freshman Shelby Walters that forced home Meadows to push the
lead to 9-3.
After a scoreless fifth by Kentucky State, the Tars scored two
more in the bottom of the inning to secure the win in a run rule.
Meadows came up with the walk off single that scored Alred after
Alred had doubled in a run earlier in the inning.
Sophmore Amye McIntyre (4-1) was credited with the win giving
up three runs, two earned, on five hits in five innings of work.
Burrell took the loss giving up nine runs on 12 hits in just over
three innings pitched. Alred had a career best four hits with two
RBI while scoring three runs.
Rollins will be back in action Thursday, Mar. 1st at
home in a double header against Mount Olive with first pitch slated
for 6:00pm. Fans can follow all the action live on the Tars Sports
Network at RollinsSports.com.
